Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-12
ABOUT OUR HOTELS.
GREAT PROGRESS SHOWN IN THE
HOSTELRlES OF TO-DAY.
The Names Which Are Perpetuated.
Evolutions of the Hotel-The English
Country Inn-The Modern American
Hotel Justly Famous.

Evolutions of the Hotel-The English
Country Inn-The Modern American
Hotel Justly Famous.
Despite the fact that more than a score Of
new hotels have been built in this city within
the past five years, not one Of them per
petuates any such names as Washington,
Lincoln. Grant, Clay, Sumner or Clinton,
while Vanderbilt, Astor, Gilsey, Belmont
and even Bartholdi have all been honored-
New York Is not alone ii thus ignoring
names made famous in the history of the
country, for with the exception OF small
hotel at Sea Bright, Y. j., called the Garfield
house, hotel proprietors throughout the
United States have selected every other
name for their palatial structures in pref
erence to any OF those mentioned above.
Speaking of these modern Caravansarles,
what change has been wrought in them
since the first great and original step forward
represented by that massive pile or granite
known as the Aston house. Could the Idle
and curious and equally garruiouS oracle OF
the ale house of the obscure country village
have happened into this famous hosiery
during is early years Of prosperity, he would
have found little to excite his admiration
and awe compared with that which has
marked the rise and progress Of the modern
hotel since that period. From the public
house of 4 provincial market town, the stage
tavern Of the mail route and the dignitied
city inn, the hotel has evOluted to the COM
plicated and comprehensive thousand guest
structures that are now so numerous, not
only in America, but throughout the world.
THE HOTELS EVOLUTION.
Previous to the distribution of land among
many small holders, society required nothing
answering to inns. The rich were enter
tanned 10y some friendly landed proprietor,
while the poor were made welcome and shell
tered at the monastery OF the locality IN
which they found themselves. The establish
ment OF the ale house was the first attempt
made at entertaining, but as its proprietors
catered more to The low appetiteS OF their
customers. the business soon became too vuI-
gar Tor any respectable person 10 engage in
With the introduction Of the regular mail
coaches the country inn sprang into exist
ence, and many Of them were made famous
by such master minds as Shakespeare, Iry-
In. Johnson, Garrich and Burke.
Though none of-he essentials Of the well
appointed, well kept and perfectly served
English country inns we're to he found IL the
stage taverus Of America that fOurished ii
the early days of is settlement, sill they
were characteristic institutions. Though the
cheerful fire, comfortable bed, neatly spread
tables ana well cooked food of the English
inn was wanting, TIE stage taverns were in
iuential ceuters for political thought and dis
cusS.oH. and many OF the able minds and bril-
lant careers that grace American history
! / L.. I lev.
old STAGE tavern roof 81 of them were re-
markable Tor some one thing or another. One
had a reputation Tor the excellence of the
toddy and punch brewed by its genial host,
another was famous for the peculiar method
OF curing and cooking ham anj bacon, while
g third held an inalienable supremacy for the
number OF wits and story telIers gathered in
the tap room ct night
IS JUSTLY FAMOUS.
But now all this has changed, and in no
country il the world is there more perfectly
appointed or more complete houses for per
manent or transient residence than in the
United States Less than ten years ago the
palm for superiority was awarded to the hO-
teIs Of Switzerland but to-day the American
Lcriface gives his patrons q Partisan cuisine
plus every other fascination which magma
ton can devise, together with those labor
saving marvelS OF mechanical ingenuity Tor
viii b the modern American hotel is justly
famous. So general has been the advance
me1t in this particular that TO see one hotel
worthy the name at the present time is 20 seq
them all The main difference III the hostel
ries Of today Is tie plan on which they are
conducted Some are run On the European
o.. Tgy-E3r-vii et-vg.l-zet plan: others on the